Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Letters to the Editor

This letter was published in the Brooklyn Papers on October 13, 2007 by a neighborhood resident.

Keep it C'Gardens

To the editor,

Thank you for your recent series of arti­cles diligently covering the proposed build­fig at 360 Smith St. ("Carroll courtyard saved!" Sept. 15).

Clearly, the neighborhood is alarmed at the thought of a 43-unit building and the impact it will inevitably have.

Although we have had great media cov­erage, and some response from local elect­ed officials, local politicians have been a lit­tle less than forthcoming with the following information: Where does the city plan to educate the many children who will inhabit the rash of new housing in the Carroll Gar­dens area?

Our beloved local elementary school, PS 58, is already at capacity, with a wait list for pre-K. Will we have to add it to th~ list of grossly overcrowded city schools? Who will be responsible for ensuring the safety of commuters and the children from the three neighboring schools who must cross Smith Street without a crosswalk, traffic light, or stop sign?

Why is there no procedure in place for an entire neighborhood to band together and fight the look, scale, and impact of gi­ant developments? Why can't we have our moratorium? Over 2,500 of us have signed a petition asking for it!

CORD HISTORY:

With the "Protect Our Homes" petition, CORD was formed in May, 2007. This petition arose as an overwhelmingly negative response to the coming of the over-sized 360 Smith Street Development at the corner of Smith Street and Second Place (Aka Oliver House; aka 131 Second Place). This petition, which had well over three thousand signatures, led to a new zoning text amendment in summer of 2008.

To: Our Elected Officials, Community Leaders, The MTA:(MAY, 2007)

We the undersigned Carroll Gardens homeowners and residents, are appalled by the "as of right" ruling which allows owners and developers to erect buildings in our neighborhood with no regard to the impact they will present to our quality of life and the value of our homes........http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?crlgrdns